Art Destination San Juan Island

Updated May 2017

Pristine San Juan Island, nestled in the crystal-clear waters in the north of Washington State, is known for its breathtaking nature, diverse wildlife and rich history. It is also home to incredibly talented and creative people, inspired by their serene surroundings, rivaling the cultural offerings of big cities. We are honored with more working artists per capita than anywhere else in Washington State. Get inspired and awed, learn something new or take a piece of island art home with you. Here are 5 places to experience visual art on San Juan Island, fun for the whole family and not to be missed:

1. SJIMA

The San Juan Island Museum of Art features eight to ten exhibits per year from the Pacific Northwest and Southern British Columbia, with an emphasis on a sense of place and the ecology and community unique to our area. In addition to world class exhibits like Ai Weiwei and Ansel Adams, the museum also offers school programs, family art days and workshops throughout the year. The annual island Artists’ Registry exhibit in December and January features an impressive, fun array of island created visual art, with many pieces for sale.

2. San Juan Islands Sculpture Park

The 20-acre outdoor Sculpture Park on beautiful Westcott Bay is the ultimate marriage between art and nature, fun for the entire family and the puppy too. Open year-round the park features over 150 works of art along five marked trails throughout a lush meadow, deep forest, along the shores of the sea and a lovely pond. Families can create their own art with natural materials provided or carve their names in the Friendship Totem, forever linking visitors from all around the world in art.

3. Arctic Raven Gallery

Arctic Raven displays arctic and northwest coast native art. Besides breathtaking masks, prints, stone, wood and bone carvings from the Coast Salish, Kwaguilth, and Makah nations as well as the more northern Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian, the gallery offers handcrafted jewelry and accessories adorned with geometric signs and symbolic figures of our first people.

4. Waterworks Gallery

Waterworks’ rotating exhibits of classic and contemporary art from the Pacific Northwest offer delight to the serious art collector as well as somebody casually looking for the perfect souvenir. Director Ruth Offen strongly believes that the art you adorn yourself and your home with is deeply personal and sets the stage for the life you live.

5. Island Studios

Island Studios is a vast gallery with an outdoor sculpture garden, devoted to island artists only. Besides fine arts and crafts, jewelry and hand-made body care products, you’ll find local books and music, prints, postcards and textiles. A true island experience.